Call for Commission of Inquiry after report damns outdated management culture in Tasmania prisons service

A damning report into the state’s prison service has prompted calls for a Commission of Inquiry into the system.

Risdon Prison. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmania needs a Commission of Inquiry into the state’s prison system, where human rights abuses are an everyday occurrence, a prisoner advocate says.

Prisoners’ Legal Service spokesman Greg Barns said a damning Custodial Inspector’s report had highlighted what had been known for 20 years about staffing and management in the Tasmania Prisons Service.

He said an inquiry was needed to bring the state’s prison system up to best practice.

“This is the worst assessment that I have seen and I’ve been advocating on prison issues for almost two decades,” he said.

“That is saying something because we’ve had very damning and terrible reports, a number of reviews over the years all of which have indicated the same thing that is this is a very poorly run prison system.

“Governments don’t have the political will to fix it.

“There is there are serious human rights abuses and it has got worse if you look at this report, but it’s not just the adult prison.

Chair of the Prisoner's Legal Service Greg Barns SC. Picture: Chris Kidd

“This report again today indicates the gross negligence and the uncaring attitude of this minister and this government when it comes to Ashley.

“It should have been closed a number of years ago, it has to close now. “Every day Ashley stays open is a day in which human rights abuses occur.”

Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Madeleine Ogilvie noted the contents of the report.

“The Tasmanian government remains firmly committed to addressing the issues raised by the Custodial Inspector in his report, and we are constantly working to improve our Corrections system to rehabilitate offenders, support our staff, and make Tasmania safer.

“Our top priority is keeping the people of Tasmania safe, and the Tasmania Prison Service will consider this report, and allocate staff to implement the supported recommendations.

Asked about prison lockdowns earlier in the week, Ms Ogilvie said she was looking for better ways of doing things.

Risdon Prison. Picture: Chris Kidd

“I want to make sure that people understand though that they are safe on our streets and if something happens, the arrest will happen and the judicial process will occur.

“But can we make things more effective? Yes, of course. Can we both be more efficient? Yes.

“Is there a greater place for community corrections and electronic monitoring? I think there is and it’s something that we will lean into just one more.”

Labor spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said lockdowns and staff shortages were the result of mismanagement.

“The reports make clear that staff shortages are the main reason for debilitating lockdowns across the prison service.

“With the Liberals’ efficiency dividend now in place, and wide-ranging cuts to public services underway, it is difficult to see how they will address this issue across the adult and youth systems.

“When it comes to lockdowns at Ashley, the Liberals only have themselves to blame after massively failing to deliver on their promise to close the centre by the end of this year.”

Complete overhaul: Report damns Tasmanian prison service culture

A damning report into the state’s prison service has recommended a complete overhaul of an outdated “command and control” management culture which it blamed for difficulties in attracting and retaining staff.

Custodial Inspector Richard Connock has found lockdowns caused by understaffing in the state’s prison system was having significant effects on the physical and mental health of prisoners.

His 376-page report into adult health care on Thursday with 117 recommendations: including an urgent increase to staffing to protect both prisoners and staff.

Tasmania’s prisons service is the most expensive in the nation, costing more than $200,000 per prisoner per year – and deliver the worst rehabilitation outcomes.

The report noted the prison management had a misplaced pride in a ” command and control” culture, something the Inspector noted was a” relic of past business practices”, well known to have a negative effect on performance and the ability to attract and retain talent.

“Their failure to recognise this is exerting a significant price, and one consequence is day-to-day lack of staffing, resulting in multiple failures to operate the prison as required,” the report said.

“This long term systemic failure should be a source of concern.”

Custodial inspector Richard Connock gives evidence at a Legislative Council inquiry into Tasmanian adult imprisonment and youth detention.

More than 10 per cent of the staff on the Prison Service books are considered permanently incapacitated and a recent recruiting drive attracted no applicants.

Mr Connock noted that 34 of the 46 recommendations of his 2017 report on the same topic have still not been enacted – something he called: ”a missed opportunity to support the health care of prisoners”.

The report found that some units at Risdon prison had been subject to full-day lockdowns for 19 days in a single month.

Entrance to Risdon Prison. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“There are staff shortages across the TPS (Tasmanian Prison System) and AYDC (Ashley Youth Detention Centre), which are chronic in some areas, that at times necessitate those in custody being locked down for both their safety and that of staff.” Mr Connock said.

“Both medical consultants who were involved in the inspections highlighted the significant effects of lockdowns on prisoners’ and young peoples’ mental and physical health.

“These include increased frustration and irritability, anger, depressive symptoms, and a general decline in mental health and wellbeing; as well as social isolation.

“Insufficient TPS correctional staff also reduce the ability to access health care and external medical appointments. Lockdowns also reduce Correctional Primary Health Service (CPHS) staff access into the adult custodial facilities.”

One prisoner told the inspection team: “Not knowing if having [a] lockdown that day is very stressful. Get told at 8am over the loudspeaker. Doesn’t help your mental health, not knowing if you’re coming out”.

The report highlighted a Prison Service decision to ban a medical officer “on security grounds” because she made a medical decision staff didn’t agree with.

The doctor wanted a patient who swallowed a razor blade to stay in hospital and the Director of Prison decided to withdraw her right to enter the prison to do her job.

Director of Prisons Ian Thomas at new Southern Remand Centre. Picture: Chris Kidd

The report found medical officer has been humiliated in a public area when being informed of the ban, which was ”inappropriate and without sufficient justification”.

It was lifted the following day.

The report said Director of Prisons Ian Thomas had rejected the finding and had demanded the section be removed.

Originally published as Call for Commission of Inquiry after report damns outdated management culture in Tasmania prisons service